Queen Latifah hit the stage at the 97th Academy Awards with a live performance, paying tribute to the late Quincy Jones through a performance of “Ease On Down the Road.” Jones died in November, and Latifah’s performance honored the Grammy-winning producer and film composer who collaborated with Michael Jackson.

A Queen gave an Oscar tribute fit for a king. That’s what happened at the 97th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night when Queen Latifah gave a salute to movie music icon Quincy Jones, who died at 91 from pancreatic cancer last November.

Quincy Jones was perhaps best known for his work in pop and R&B music, but the composer, producer and arranger also left an indelible mark on film music with innovative and genre-defying scores. Honoring his groundbreaking contributions to cinema and song at the 2025 Oscars were Oprah Winfrey,

Queen Latifah's performance was introduced by Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg, all as part of a tribute to the late producer and composer Quincy Jones

Goldberg, who introduced Queen Latifah's moving musical tribute to Jones, previously said she had "no better friend" than the legendary musician, who died in 2024.

Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg commanded the stage at the 2025 Academy Awards in a breathtaking The Color Purple reunion. See photos

Queen Latifah was joined on stage by Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg to honor the late Quincy Jones at the 2025 Oscars. “When we’re talking about Black excellence, we’re talking about Quincy,” declared Goldberg to applause.

Quincy Jones was honored with a moving musical tribute during the 2025 Oscars Sunday night. Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, co-stars in Jones' 1985 film "The Color Purple," led the tribute the legendary music producer,